Aroldis Chapman helps fund MSJ locker room renovation

The Mount St. Joseph University men's volleyball team got an upgrade to its locker room thanks to a generous Cincinnati Reds player.

Pitcher Aroldis Chapman donated 80 percent of the funds needed to construct the 21 custom wood lockers and interlocking rubber flooring in the locker room exclusively used by the men's volleyball team. The project took three months to complete.

Mount St. Joseph men's volleyball coach, Ryan Lengerich, says the Reds closing pitcher has ties to the team. Chapman and the parents of senior player Cesar Trigo de Serranoare are both from Cuba.

Chapman left the communist nation in 2009 and signed a six-year, $30.25 million contract with the Reds in January 2010. de Serrano moved to Cincinnati from Miami, Fla. several years ago before enrolling at MSJ as an adult transfer student. Then the two became friends.

Chapman has been spotted at a few of the teams games before, and Coach Lengerich says he knows the importance of the locker room he has helped give to the players.

“The locker room is a special place where the athletes celebrate the wins and pick each other up in defeat. These students-athletes deserve this locker room. They never asked for it, they only worked hard each day and were thankful for what they had. They are a humble group (the team), and there is no doubt they will treat this locker room with respect and enjoy it,” said Lengerich.